Coq au Vin (The Best)

Ingredients

• • 1 whole chicken, about 4 lb (1.8 kg), cut into 8 pieces
  • 2 cups (500 ml) red wine
  • 1 thyme sprig
  • 1 rosemary sprig
  • 6 tbsp (80 g) butter, softened
  • 1/4 lb (115 g) smoked slab bacon, diced
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) Cognac or brandy
  • 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tbsp unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 lb (225 g) white mushrooms, quartered
  • 6 oz (170 g) pearl onions, peeled and blanched
  • 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped